Aug. 19, 2010

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's women's soccer team opens its 2010 season on Friday night, traveling to take on No. 18 Rutgers at Yurcak Field. Game time is set for 7 p.m. The Seawolves tied No. 23 Rutgers last season, its best ever result against a ranked opponent. Fans can follow the action with gametracker at www.goseawolves.org. The contest can also be followed via live video streaming by going to www.scarletknights.com and clicking on the KnightVision On Demand screen. Below is the Seawolves' 2010 season preview.

2010 Season Preview
Stony Brook University women's soccer program had a lot to be proud of following the 2009 as it continued to establish itself as the one of the top programs in the America East Conference and the Northeast Region.

The Seawolves advanced to the America East semifinals, the third consecutive year that SBU has advanced to at least the semifinals. They played No. 23 Rutgers to a 1-1 tie and defeated eventual conference champion Boston University, 2-1, during the regular season. The victory over the Terriers ended BU's 22 game conference-win streak.

Entering the 2010 season, the Seawolves have set their sights on the one goal the program has yet to achieve despite its success over the past couple years: an America East tournament and the automatic bid to the NCAA College Cup that goes with it.

Head coach Sue Ryan and her team have reason to be optimistic, returning nine of 11 starters from last year's squad, including junior Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y.), the 2008 America East Rookie of the Year.

The Seawolves also bring back sophomores Sa'sha Kershaw (Baltimore, Md.) and Taryn Schoenbeck (Newark, Del.), who each earned a spot on the 2009 All-America East Rookie team. Kershaw led the team in points (14) and tied for the team lead in goals (six).

The Seniors
Leading the way for Seawolves senior class are defenders Sarah Dwyer (Laurel, Md.) and Debbie Aller (Stony Brook, N.Y.). Dwyer has been an anchor of the Seawolves defense over the past three seasons, starting all but one game. The 2007 America East All-Rookie selection will continue to be one of the pillars of the Seawolves backfield this season.

Aiding Dwyer in a stopper role will be Aller, a co-captain, who has emerged as one of the Seawolves most consistent players over the past two seasons. After battling injury early in the year, Aller started the final 14 games and was the heart and soul of the Seawolves defense.

Morgan Sims (Ambler, Pa.) is expected to compete for a starting position up front this season after starting nine games a season ago. Sims scored a goal and added three assists as she ranked third on the team with five points.

After playing in just four games last season due to injury, the Seawolves will look for forward Danielle Tenaglia (North Reading, Mass) to compete for time up front. In 2008, Tenaglia appeared in 17 games after tying for a team-high in goals (three) as a freshman.

Elizabeth Valencia (Huntington Station, N.Y.) will attempt to make a comeback this season after missing 2008 and 2009 due to injury.

One of five goalkeepers on the roster, Morgan Johanson (Pittsford, N.Y.) will compete for the starting job as the Seawolves try to fill the shoes of all-conference goalkeeper Marisa Viola. Johanson will also be one of the teams captains.

The Juniors
McKenna will once again be counted on to lead the Seawolves offensive attack. Battling injury last season, she made 14 appearances including nine starts. As a freshman she was named the America East Rookie of the Year in addition to being selected to the all-conference first team after leading the America East in goals (nine) and points (21). Ryan and her staff believe that a now healthy McKenna will once again be able to shoulder much of the offensive load.

Holly Razzaghi (Bloomsburg, Pa.) will once again be the anchor of the Seawolves midfield. She has started all but one game over the past two seasons and had a goal and two assists last season.

Teaming with Razzaghi in the central midfield will be Dominique Adamo (Ramsey, N.J.), who made 16 starts last season. Adamo scored two goals including the game-winner in the win over Boston University.

Alexis Lindo (York, Pa.) continued to be one of the team's most consistent players last season as she appeared in 18 games in the backfield. Also returning for the Seawolves defense will be Dana Adamkiewicz (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.), who was one of two Seawolves to start every game a season ago and will be a co-captain on this year's squad.

The coaching staff expects Rachel Silverman (Rye Brook, N.Y.) to compete for a starting position this season after seeing important minutes in the midfield last season. Silverman played in all 19 games and made five starts.

Forward Gabriella Petralia (West Hempstead, N.Y.) had a breakout season last year, scoring two goals while appearing in 18 games and making 10 starts. Ryan and her staff see Petralia playing an even more important role in the Seawolves offense this season.

Daniela Giuliani (West Lafayette, Ind.) played in 13 games in 2009 and will help to bolster the Stony Brook offensive attack.

The Sophomores
America East All- Rookie selections Kershaw and Schoenbeck each return after outstanding freshman seasons. Kershaw led the team in points (14) and tied for the team lead in goals (six) from an attacking midfield position and the coaching staff expects similar production from her as a sophomore.

Schoenbeck came on late in the season, starting 10 of the final 11 games at forward, tallying a team-high three assists, all during conference play.

Neither Holly Thompson (Wyoming, Del.) or Kristen Reiche (Mahopac, N.Y.) saw time in net last season but both are expected to compete for time this season.

The Freshmen
Ryan and her coaching staff expect immediate contributions from this year's group of freshmen, which she believes is their best class ever from top to bottom.

Ahriel Fernandez arrives at Stony Brook from East Haven, Conn where she was a four-year letter-winner at Hill Regional Career High School. A two-time captain, Fernandez scored 21 goals over her junior and senior years and led Hill to a 12-2-2 record and No. 4 state ranking as a senior.

A four-year letterwinner at Broad Run High School, Jennifer Taylor comes to the Seawolves from Ashburn, Va. Taylor led Broad Run to the 2009 Virginia State Championship and a No. 2 national ranking in the ESPN Rise Fab 50 poll. A 5-5 defender, Taylor was a 2009 second-team all-district selection and was also a part of a Broad Run squad that went undefeated and won the 2008 state title.

A four-year letter-winner at Blue Valley High School in Stilwell, Kan., Julianne Palm was a 2009 EKL second team selection. A 5-4 midfielder, Palm played for the BVSC-Mallorca club team that has won six-straight state championships. BVSC advanced to the Regional semi-finals in each of those six years, went to the finals in 2008 and was ranked as high No. 7 in the nation.

Caitlin Pfeiffer arrives at Stony Brook from Holland Central High School in Holland, N.Y., where she was a five-year letter-winner. A 2009 first team all-state and all-western New York selection, the 5-5 forward captained Holland as a senior, leading her team in goals (17) and assists (16). As a junior, she earned second team all-state and all-western New York honors as she scored 17 goals and added five assists.

Queli Ornelas comes to Stony Brook from Palm Harbor University High School in Palm Harbor, Fla., where she was a four-year letter-winner. A 5-8 forward, Ornelas led Palm Harbor to two Florida State Championships. Palm Harbor was ranked as the No. 7 high school team in country in the final 2010 ESPN Rise Fab 50 poll and went a combined 45-0-3 over Ornelas' last two years.

Chelsea Morales was a four-year letter-winner at Temecula Valley High School in Temecula, Calif. An All-American and first team All-League selection as a freshman, Morales led Temecula to an undefeated season and set the school shutout record. Morales was a three-year member of the California State ODP team that won the National Championship in 2007.

Larissa Nysch arrives at Stony Brook from Upper Dublin High School in Fort Washington, Pa., where she was a four-year letter-winner. A three-team All-League selection and 2008 All-State selection, the 5-6 midfielder has scored 38 goals over her first three years at Upper Dublin.

Ashley Castanio comes to Stony Brook from Oceanside, N.Y., where she was a four-year letter-winner at Oceanside High School. A captain as a senior, Castanio was a 2009 first-team all-state selection and was named the Most Valuable Goalkeeper in Nassau County and was an ESPN All-Region selection as well.

Tess Hagenlock comes to Stony Brook from Bozeman High in Bozeman, Mont., where she was a three-time all-state honoree and won the `Golden Boot' in 2006 and 2009. Most recently, Tess was named the 2009-10 Gatorade State Player of the Year Award in addition to being named to the ESPN All-Region Team.

A 5-3 midfielder, Ericka Garufi comes to Stony Brook from Milton High in Milton, Mass. where she was a four-year letter-winner for head coach Brian Borde. She was named a 2009 all-star and played for the Stars of Mass club team.

Stony Brook Seawolves Women's Soccer

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